Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HOIST DRIVE FOR MINING MACHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of mining machines.
Specifically, the
present invention relates to a hoist drive for a mining machine such as a rope
shovel.
[0003] On a conventional mining machine, such as a rope shovel, a mining
implement such
as a dipper is attached to a handle, and the dipper is supported by a cable,
or rope, that passes
over a boom sheave. The rope is coupled to the dipper on one end and is
wrapped around a hoist
drum on the other end. A drive system rotates the hoist drum to reel in or pay
out the rope,
raising or lowering the dipper, respectively. The drive system typically
includes at least one
electric motor that is coupled to a speed-reducing gear transmission. The
final gear is coupled to
the hoist drum to transmit torque to the hoist drum. The drive system is
typically large and
complicated, and replacing components of the drive system is difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one embodiment, the invention provides a hoist system for a
mining shovel hoist
system for reeling in and paying out a cable. The hoist system includes a
drum, a motor, and a
transmission. The drum includes a hollow shell, a first end, a second end, and
an internal web.
The drum defines a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the
second end. The
internal web extends across an interior portion of the shell in a direction
perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis, thereby defining a first portion of the shell and a second
portion of the shell.
The motor is coupled to the first end and includes an output shaft. The
transmission is driven by
the motor and includes a planetary gear train positioned within the interior
portion of the shell.
The planetary gear train includes an input gear coupled to the motor output
shaft and an output
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gear coupled to the internal web to rotate the drum about the longitudinal
axis. The planetary
gear train is positioned in a first portion of the shell.
100051 In another embodiment, the invention provides an industrial machine
including a
boom having a boom end, a cable extending over the boom end, a member movably
coupled to
the boom, and a hoist system for reeling in and paying out the cable in order
to move the
implement relative to the boom end. The member includes a distal end and an
implement
coupled to the distal end and coupled to the cable. The hoist system includes
a drum, a motor,
and a transmission driven by the motor. The drum includes a hollow shell, a
first end, a second
end, and an internal web, and defines a longitudinal axis extending between
the first end and the
second end. The internal web extends across an interior portion of the shell
in a direction that is
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, thereby defining a first portion of
the shell and a second
portion of the shell. The motor is coupled to the first end and includes an
output shaft. The
transmission includes a planetary gear train positioned within the interior
portion of the shell.
The planetary gear train includes an input gear coupled to the motor output
shaft and an output
gear coupled to the internal web to rotate the drum about the longitudinal
axis, thereby reeling in
or paying out the cable. The planetary gear train is positioned in a first
portion of the shell.
[0006] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a hoist drive
system for reeling in
and paying out a cable on a drum. The drum includes a shell having an interior
portion, a first
end, and a second end, and defines a longitudinal axis extending between the
first end and the
second end. The hoist drive system includes a motor coupled to the first end,
a transmission, a
manifold, and a valve. The motor includes a rotatable output shaft. The
transmission is driven by
the motor output shaft and includes a planetary gear train positioned within
the interior portion of
the shell. The planetary gear train includes an input gear coupled to the
motor output shaft and
an output gear to rotate the drum about the longitudinal axis. The manifold is
coupled to the
motor output shaft and rotates with the motor output shaft. The manifold
includes a port and a
channel in fluid communication with the port. The channel is in fluid
communication with the
interior portion of the shell. The valve is in fluid communication with a
lubrication medium
source and is positioned adjacent the manifold such that the valve is in fluid
communication with
the port when the port moves past the valve.
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[0007] In still another embodiment, the invention provides a mining shovel
including a boom
having a boom end, a cable extending over the boom end, a member movably
coupled to the
boom, and a hoist system. The member includes a distal end and an implement
coupled to the
distal end. The implement is coupled to the cable. The hoist system reels in
and pays out the
cable in order to move the implement relative to the boom end. The hoist
system includes a
drum, a first motor, a second motor, a first transmission positioned within an
interior portion of
the drum, and a second transmission positioned within an interior portion of
the drum. The drum
includes a first end and a second end and defines a longitudinal axis
extending therebetween.
The first motor is positioned proximate the first end of the drum and includes
a first output shaft.
The second motor is positioned proximate the second end of the drum and
includes a second
output shaft. The first transmission includes a first input gear coupled to
the first motor output
shaft and a first output gear coupled to the drum to rotate the drum about the
longitudinal axis.
The second transmission includes a second input gear coupled to the second
motor output shaft
and a second output gear coupled to the drum to rotate the drum about the
longitudinal axis.
[0008] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration
of the detailed
description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining shovel.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hoist system according to one
embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the hoist system of FIG. 2 with
a drum removed.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a section view of the hoist system of FIG. 2, taken along
line 4--4.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of the hoist system of FIG. 4.
=
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged section view of the hoist system of FIG. 4
[0015] FIG. 7 is a section view of a hoist system according to another
embodiment.
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[0016] FIG. 8 is a section view of a hoist system according to another
embodiment.
[0017] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it
is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of construction and the
arrangement of components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the following
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
or of being
carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology
used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, an industrial machine, such as a mining shovel
10, rests on a
support surface or floor, and includes a base 22, a boom 26, a support member
28 extending
between the base 22 and the boom 26, an elongated member or handle 30, and a
work implement
or dipper 34. The base 22 includes a hoist system 38 for reeling in and paying
out a cable or
hoist rope 42. The boom 26 includes a first end (not shown) coupled to the
base 22, a second
end 50 opposite the first end 46, saddle blocks 52, a boom sheave 54 coupled
to the second end
50, and a shipper shaft 56. The boom 26 is pivotable relative to the base 22
about the first end.
In the illustrated embodiment, the support member 28 limits the pivoting
movement of the boom
26 relative to the base 22. In other embodiments, the boom 26 is supported by
a gantry or
similar structure.
[0019] The handle 30 is movably coupled to the boom 26 and includes a first
end 58 and a
second end 60. The first end 58 is moveably received in the saddle blocks 52,
and the handle 30
passes through the saddle block 52 such that the handle 30 is configured for
rotational and
translational movement relative to the boom 26. Stated another way, the handle
30 is linearly
extendable relative to the saddle block 52 and is rotatable about the shipper
shaft 56.
[0020] The rope 42 is secured to the hoist system 38, passes over the boom
sheave 54, and is
coupled to the dipper 34. The dipper 34 is raised or lowered relative to the
boom sheave 54 as
the rope 42 is reeled in or paid out, respectively, by the hoist system 38. In
the illustrated
embodiment, the dipper 34 is fixed relative to the handle 30. In other
embodiments, the machine
includes a bucket that is pivotable relative to the handle 30 about the second
end 60.
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[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the hoist system 38 includes a drum 62, a pair
of mounting
brackets 66 supporting the drum 62, and a drive system 70. The drum 62
includes a shell or reel
portion 72 for receiving the hoist rope 42, a first end 74, a second end 76,
and an internal web 78
(FIG. 4). The drum 62 defines a longitudinal axis 80 extending from the first
end 74 to the
second end 76. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the mounting brackets 66
rotatably support
the drum ends 74, 76 and include a pair of lugs 82. A pin (not shown) is
inserted through each
lug 82 to couple the hoist system 38 to the base 22 of the shovel 10. When the
pins are removed,
the hoist system 38 can be removed from the shovel 10, permitting the entire
hoist system 38 to
be replaced.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive system 70 includes a first
motor 86a, a second
motor 86b, a first transmission 90a positioned within the drum 62, a second
transmission 90b
positioned within the drum 62, and a lubrication system 94 (FIG. 6). Since the
first motor 86a is
substantially identical to the second motor 86b and the first transmission 90a
is substantially
identical to the second transmission 90b, for brevity only one component will
be described in
detail. In the illustrated embodiment the first motor 86a is electric, and may
be any type of
electric motor, including alternating current (AC), direct current (DC), or
switched reluctance
(SR). The first motor 86a is supported by one of the mounting brackets 66 and
includes an
output shaft 98a (FIG. 4).
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the first transmission 90a is a
planetary gear train. The
first transmission 90a includes an input pinion 106a coupled to the motor
output shaft 98a,
multiple first planet gears 110a coupled to a first carrier 114a, a first ring
gear 118a, a sun gear
122a, multiple second planet gears 126a, and a second ring gear 130a. The
second planet gears
126a are coupled to the web 78. In the illustrated embodiment, the input
pinion 106a includes an
external spline 138 (FIG. 6) that engages an internal spline 142 (FIG. 6)
coupled to the motor
output shaft 98a. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the first transmission
90a includes three
first planet gears 110a and three second planet gears 126a, although each set
of planet gears
110a, 126a may include fewer or more planet gears. Furthermore, in the
illustrated embodiment,
the first ring gear 118a and second ring gear 130a are coupled to the mounting
bracket 66 (FIG.
4) and do not rotate about the longitudinal axis 80.
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[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal web 78 extends across an
interior portion of
the drum 62 in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 80,
thereby dividing an
interior portion of the drum 62 into a first portion housing the first
transmission 90a and a second
portion housing the second transmission 90b. The web 78 includes planet pins
146, and each pin
146 extends through the web 78 so that a first end 150a (FIG. 5) of the pin
146 is proximate the
first transmission 90a and a second end 150b (FIG. 5) is proximate the second
transmission 90b.
The second planet gears 126a, 126b are rotatably coupled to the planet pins
146. More
specifically, each second planet gear 126a of the first transmission 90a is
coupled to the first end
150a of one of the pins 146, and a corresponding second planet gear 126b of
the second
transmission 90b is coupled to the second end 150b of the same planet pin 146.
[0025] Coupling the second planet gears 126a, 126b to a common pin 146 on
either side of
the web 78 provides a double-supported condition on the pins 146, reducing the
bending moment
on the web 78 that would otherwise occur if the pins 146 were cantilevered. As
a result, the pins
146 and the web 78 are primarily subjected to only shear loads. This
configuration balances the
load on the pin 146 and the web 78 by reducing the reaction bending moments
that otherwise
would arise due to the gear forces. The reduced moment permits a reduction of
the web's
thickness without loss of strength, and therefore reduces the weight of the
drum 62. In addition,
the balanced condition reduces deflection and misalignment of the gears during
operation.
[0026] During operation, the motor output shaft 98a rotates the input
pinion 106a, causing
rotation of the first planet gears 110a. As the first planet gears 110a
rotate, the first planet gears
110a revolve around the input pinion 106a, causing rotation of the first
carrier 114a. The
rotation of the first carrier 114a drives the sun gear 122a, which in turn
rotates the second planet
gears 126a. As the second planet gears 126a rotate, the second planet gears
126a revolve around
the sun gear 122a. The revolution of the second planet gears 126a exerts a
rotational force on the
planet pins 146 and the web 78, thereby cause the drum 62 to rotate in a
desired direction to
either reel in or pay out the hoist rope 42. Simultaneously, the motor output
shaft 98b rotates the
input pinion 106b in a direction opposite the rotation of the input pinion
106a in order to exert a
similar rotational force on the planet pins 146 via second planet gears 126b.
In one embodiment,
the gear ratio between each motor output shaft 98a, 98b and the drum 62 is
approximately 70:1.
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100271 FIG. 6 illustrates the lubrication system associated with the
first motor 86a and the
= first transmission 90a. For brevity, the lubrication system associated
with the second motor 86b
and the second transmission 90b is substantially identical to the lubrication
system 94 and
therefore is not described in detail. The lubrication circuit 94 includes a
valve 166, a rotating
manifold 170 coupled to the motor output shaft 98a, a sealed chamber 174
within the motor
output shaft 98a, and a transmission channel 178. The valve 166 receives a
lubrication medium,
such as grease, from a supply conduit (not shown) that is in fluid
communication with a fluid
pump (not shown). In some embodiments, the supply conduit is a hose.
[0028] The valve 166 is positioned adjacent to the rotating manifold
170. The manifold 170
includes at least one port 182, a first channel 186, a second channel 190, and
a third channel 194.
Each port 182 is positioned such that the port 182 is aligned with the valve
166 periodically. In
the illustrated embodiment, the rotating manifold 170 is separated from the
valve 166 by a small
clearance such that the manifold 170 and the valve 166 do not contact. The
first channel 186 is
in fluid communication between the port 182 and the sealed chamber 174. The
second channel
190 is in fluid communication between the sealed chamber 174 and the internal
spline 142 of the
motor output shaft 98a. The third channel 194 is schematically parallel to the
second channel
190 and is in fluid communication between the sealed chamber 174 and the
transmission channel
178. As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission channel 178 extends through the
pinion input 106a
and is in fluid communication with the areas adjacent to the other gears of
the transmission 90a.
[0029] During operation, the motor output shaft 98a drives the
rotating manifold 170.
During each rotation of the manifold 170, the port 182 is placed in
communication with the valve
166 at least once, allowing fluid to enter the first channel 186. The fluid is
pumped through the
first channel 186 to the sealed chamber 174. From the sealed chamber 174, the
fluid either
enters the second channel 190 or the third channel 194. Fluid flowing through
the second
channel 190 provides lubrication to the connection between the internal spline
142 of the rotating
manifold 170 and the external spline 138 of the input pinion 106a. Fluid
flowing through the
third channel 194, on the other hand, enters the transmission channel 178 and
provides
lubrication to the other connections in the transmission 90, including thrust
plugs or other
connections between the gears 110, 126 and the carriers 114, 134.
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[0030] Positioning the transmissions 90a, 90b within the drum 62
provides a compact hoist
system 38 with a self-contained drive system that occupies less space and
weighs less than prior
=
art hoist systems. This reduces the amount of time required to service or
replace the hoist system
38. Furthermore, the common pin mounting for the second gear drive of each
transmission 90a,
90b balances bending loads on the components of hoist system 38. In addition,
the lubrication
circuit 94 provides better lubrication for the rotating components, reducing
the amount of wear
on the components of the drive system 70.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, in another embodiment the drive system 70
may include only the
first motor 86a and first transmission 90a coupled to the first motor 90a to
transmit power to the
drum 62. In this embodiment, the second planet gears 126a are coupled to
planet pins 146 that
only extend into the first interior portion of the drum 62. In another
embodiment, shown in FIG.
8, pins 538 do not extend through the web 78, but are split between each side
of the web 78. The
second planet gears 126a, 126b are rotatably coupled to the pins 538a, 538b,
respectively, that
are coupled to opposite sides of the web 78. Corresponding pins 538a, 538b are
aligned with one
another along a common axis.
[0032] Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a hoist
system for an industrial
machine. Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to
certain preferred
embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of
one or more
independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and
advantages of the
invention are set forth in the following claims.
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